Saturday, August 22, 2009

"It comes as no surprise to any pastor that St. John Vianney was severely abused and derided because he called his people to chastity when debauchery was the norm, to sobriety when drunkenness was rampant, to holiness when secularity was much more popular. Because he loved, however, he did not cease to challenge sinfulness and call his people to repentance. He did this at great personal cost because of his determined love for souls. I strongly suspect that if St. John Vianney himself were in many of our American parishes there would be an abundance of letters from concerned parishioners about the direction in which he was taking the parish. This in no way implies that letters about priests to chanceries all across this country are not sometimes warranted and it in no way implies that our priests are comparable to St. John Vianney. It does imply that most of us do not respond well when the sinfulness of our own lives is challenged."

1 comment:

Let us pray for Francis, our Pope.

May the Lord preserve him, and give him life, and make him blessed upon the earth, and deliver him not up to the will of his enemies. [Ps 40:3]

Let us pray for Paul our Bishop.

Heavenly Father, in these trying times when the spirit of the age threatens Christian values, give our bishop holiness of life and wisdom to direct and guide our diocese so that we may grow in your love. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Fr. Christensen's Homilies

About the Author

I am a priest of the Diocese of Sioux Falls currently serving as Pastor of Ss. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Dimock, SD and Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Ethan, SD all while working on a S.T.L. from the Liturgical Institute in Mundelein, IL.